Hugh Masekela at the Spier Amphitheatre on 5 March 2006

Hugh Masekela is set to grace the Spier stage as part of the Nedbank African Giants Music Festival. This follows the release of his lastest album, Almost like being in Jazz and forms part of his extensive tour of America, Europe, Asia and South Africa.

Hugh has had a decorated music career, which has included intensive travels abroad and a variety of jazz influences. It started when Archbishop Trevor Huddleston gave Hugh his first trumpet. After informal training, Hugh and several music-loving schoolmates formed the Huddleston Jazz Band, South Africa's very first youth orchestra formed at St. Peters Secondary School.

After this initial experience, Hugh went on to join a tour of South Africa with the “King Kong” musical. It was South Africa's first record-breaking theatrical success that toured the country for a sold-out year. Miriam Makeba and the Manhattan Brothers' Nathan Mdledle assumed the lead roles.

At the end of 1959, Abdullah Ibrahim, Kippie, Jonas, Makhaya Ntshoko, Johnny Gertze and Hugh formed Jazz Epistle Verse 1. This was the first African group to record an LP and to perform to large audiences in Johannesburg and Cape Town from late 1959 to early 1960.

However, the violence and brutality of the apartheid regime eventually chased Hugh out of his beloved home country. Hugh was admitted to the London’s Guildhall School of Music with the help of Trevor Huddleston and his friends Yehudi Menuhin and Johnny Dankworth. Miriam Makeba, who was by this stage experiencing major success in America, Harry Belafonte, Dizzy Gillespie and John Mehegan, helped him to get admission to the Manhattan School of Music in New York.

Makeba and Belafonte also supported Hugh and helped launch his international career, which was initiated with his breakthrough album The Americanization of Ooga-Booga. It was produced by the late Tom Wilson who also produced music heavyweights like Bob Dylan and Simon & Garfunkel.

Hugh attained international success and continued to release albums under the production of his business partner, Stewart Levine, including Emancipation of Hugh Masekela, Alive and Well at the Whiskey and Promise of a Future which contained the hit song "Grazing in the Grass".

After selling out at American music festivals and concert halls, Hugh heard the calls of Africa and returned to the continent of his home. Hugh moved through Guinea, to Liberia and then Ghana where he recorded “Home is where music is” with Dudu Pukwana. He travelled through Zaire to Nigeria where he met Fela Kuti and was introduced to Hedzoleh Soundz an informal Ghanaian band. This led to Hugh and Levine producing a number of groundbreaking records with this band.

Hugh continued his travels through Africa to Lesotho and then Botswana where he started the Botswana International School of Music with Dr. Khabi Mngoma in 1981. He also set up a mobile studio in Gaborone with the help of his record label, Jive Records.

Hugh returned to South Africa in 1990 after the unbanning of political parties and the release of Nelson Mandela. He tours throughout South Africa to sold-out tours and now uses his esteemed musical position to offer up and coming musicians a platform to launch their careers.

About his show at the Spier Amphitheatre, Hugh said: “ We play at so many festivals world wide, but being invited to perform at a prestigious one like the Spier Arts Summer Season and in front of our own people at home, gives us uncontrollable euphoria.”

Hugh Masekela will be performing at the Spier Amphitheatre on 5 March 2006 at 20h00. Bookings can be made through the Box Office at +27 021 809 1111, or computicket and for further information log onto www.spierarts.org.za. Ticket prices: R120, R100 and R80.


LitNet: 27 February 2006

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